Er3+-doped Fluorogallate Glass for Mid-Infrared Applications

We report an Er3t-doped fluorogallate glass with good thermal and chemical stability. The low maximum phonon energy and high mid-infrared (IR) transmittance of the glass are confirmed by Raman and IR spectra, respectively. Based on Judd–Ofelt theory, intensity parameters and radiative properties are determined from the absorption and emission spectra. The proposed glass possesses a large fluorescence branching ratio \beta (21.71%) and a maximum stimulated emission cross-section σem of Er3+:4I11/2 -> 4I13/2 transition at 2.71 \mu m (1.04 \times 10-20 cm2). The results indicate that it can be potentially applied in high-power 2.7 \mu m fiber lasers.